Brazil rally to salvage draw vs Nigeria despite Neymar’s injury; Pumas win
Brazil’s Casemiro (centre) celebrates with his team-mates after scoring against Nigeria during their friendly match in Singapore on Sunday. Associated Press
The five-time world champions fell behind in the first half, but Casemiro’s equaliser early in the second period spared their blushes before Brazil wasted a string of chances to leave Southeast Asia with a victory after also being held by Senegal on Thursday.
In another friendly, Argentina thumped Ecuador 6-1 in Spain, making light of the continued absence of Lionel Messi and a number of other top stars.
Brazil started well, with Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino firing just wide in the third minute after a smart turn near the penalty spot.
However, Brazil were dealt a major blow when Neymar limped off in the 12th minute with what appeared to be a left thigh problem -- the Paris Saint-Germain striker replaced by Bayern Munich’s Philippe Coutinho to bring a premature end to his 101st international appearance.
Neymar’s return to Champions League action may now be delayed, with PSG facing Club Brugge on Oct. 22 after the world’s most expensive player missed the first two games through suspension.
Nigeria who took the lead in the 35th minute when Joe Aribo burst through a gap in the South Americans’ defence and skipped around Marquinhos before firing low past goalkeeper Ederson from close range.
A more determined Brazil needed just three minutes after the interval to draw level, however, as Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro slotted home after a Marquinhos header had rattled the crossbar following a well-worked corner.
Meanwhile, the comfortable win for Argentina came despite Messi being suspended until November for his anti-CONMEBOL outburst during the Copa America and the unavailability of River Plate and Boca Juniors players due to those teams’ Copa Libertadores semi-final clash.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made six changes to the team that started Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Germany, but his side were three goals ahead by 32 minutes in Elche thanks to a powerful header from Bayer Leverkusen striker Lucas Alario, a Jhon Espinoza own goal and Leandro Paredes’ penalty.
Agence France-Presse
